What could be wrong with my Hilux?

[flybloke]

There comes a time when a Hilux eventually gives a problem.
I have a 99 (Torsion front spring) 3lt Diesel that has done 170 K , Mainly only road driven with the odd off road work.
It has just started to every now and then "Do nothing" when I go to start the motor. Back off key, Start again and away she goes.
I have changed the battery just some months ago and there is no probs with cranking power only to say Its a bigger battery than standard and really kicks the motor over.
Im wondering if this sounds familiar to anyone before I blindly take it in the the Tech .
The truck Is serviced every 5000 ks by myself (Oil, Fuel, Air, Brakes , Gear/ Diff oil)
The truck is stock standard apart from a new set of shocks I fitted and the 300mm Agg/ 4x4 battery.
Now here is the clinch, I fear Ive put too much starting power for an old starter and Ive stuffed it.
Love to hear what you think?, My wife wont let me sell it so it needs to be fixed and reliable for work
Mick

[BrandonH]

I had a similar thing with my old 60 series cruiser. some days it would go first crank, others it would need a couple of attempts (or a roll start when it got worse). Anways got the starter motor bushes replaced and was good as gold after that

cheers
Brandon...

[BILLY THE KID]

been playing in mud / dirty water before it started ???

most likely the starter has crap in it and isn't getting a good contact

[snasman]

Flybloke next time it does this (its a 2 person job)get some one to hold the key in the cranking position and give the starter motor a tap(use a small hammer or I use the handle end of a breaker bar or a wheel brace) on the solinoid if it then cranks your problem lies with the starter motor and it needs repairing if it dosnt your problem lies before the starter, either a buggered relay or ignition switch would be my choice to tackle next.

[snatch]

Sounds to me like the ignition switch contact.

[Dory4.1]

My discovery did a similar thing, new solenoid sorted it out

[flybloke]

Thanks fellows, I will check those possibility's out.

[jimbamb]

Sounds like astarter solonoid contacts or LOOSE Terminal on starter My ol lux actually burnt the terminal off the battery lead before it finally wouldnt work..
Jim

[Benny01]

sounds like a pretty simple problem. a lot of toyotas will do it. they are such a well made starter that very rarely will u have a breakage with them. the only thing that normally goes wrong with them is they "click" when you go to start and after a few times it will start.

its the contacts inside the starter which wear out. it an easy job to replace them and pretty cheap (like $15) for parts and it will go forever.

I would recommend hitting a starter to anyone because it can damage the field coils fairly easily and then in a month or two after you found the real problem it will die a slow death and you will need to replace the starter which on those are a reduction drive which are quite expensive

[SeaHunt]

Hi Mick,
As others have said 99.9% sure it is the starter.
There is nothing much to a starter, pull it out, pull it to bits, put new brushes in it, check the bearings, grease it where it is supposed to be greased, try it a few times to make sure it works ok and put it back in.
2 or 3 hours work, 10 or 15 bucks for brushes and it will go another 170 thou.

Or you could go and get an exchange one from Repco for about $160.

[Benny01]

Or you could go and get an exchange one from Repco for about $160.

i did a exchange one on a hiace diesel few weeks back and it was round the $400 exchange mark. diesel starters are $$$$$. very rare to get any starter for those dollars nowdays

[Kendall249]

Sounds like astarter solonoid contacts or LOOSE Terminal on starter My ol lux actually burnt the terminal off the battery lead before it finally wouldnt work..
Jim

I agree with jim. It happen to my 93 80 series not long ago, it was doing the same thing as your lux, until one day it didn't go at all (roll start). Turned out the be the contanct in the starter solenoid. Lookin at the contacts they had been arcing burning out oone of the contacts. I ended using a high temp solder (high Ag solder) to fix because no one had a set of contacts in stock and I was looking for a quick fix until I could order the new contacts. Fixed it better than new, well sort of, two months later all good. Not sure with the lux, but these contacts were a replacable part, despite what some shops told me. About 80 bucks. Relativity easy job (about one hour) so shouldn't cost too much if you don't do it yourself.

Kendall